Open Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 2014, 4, 170-174

Published Online August 2014 in SciRes. http://www.scirp.org/journal/ojvm

http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ojvm.2014.48019

Sero-Prevalence of Toxoplasmosis in
Domestic Animals in Benadir Region,
Somalia
Ahmed Abdulkadir Hassan Kadle
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry, Horseed International University, Mogadishu, Somalia
Email: kadle010@gmail.com

Received 10 July 2014; revised 30 July 2014; accepted 10 August 2014

Copyright © 2014 by author and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY).
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Abstract
A sero-prevalence survey of Toxoplasmosis in domestic animals (camels, cattle, sheep and goats)
was conducted in the Benadir region of Somalia from January to July 2014 to determine the status
of the disease. A total of 151 sera were tested, 64 camels; 28 cattle; 29 sheep and 30 goats, for the
presence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies using Latex Agglutination Test (LAT). Totally about 15.9%
(24/151) of studied animals showed sero-positive. The sero-prevalence was found in 6.3% of 64
camels, 7.1% of 28 cattle, 34.5% of 29 sheep and 26.7% of 30 goats. The antibody titres to T. gondii
positive sera were 2 (8.3%), 9 (37.5%), 4 (16.7%), 4 (16.7%), 4 (16.7%), 1 (4.2%) and 0 (0%) by
dilution of 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 1:16, 1:32, 1:64 and 1:128 respectively. Out of 151 domestic animals (45
male and 106 female), 8 (5.3%) males and 16 (10.6%) females were infected with T. gondii. The
study recommends the need for further researches in the whole country using different serologi-
cal tests and to determine the impact of these findings on the human population. It would be im-
portant to increase public awareness on zoonotic potential of Toxoplasmosis.

Keywords
Sero-Prevalence, Toxoplasmosis, LAT, Domestic Animals, Benadir Region, Somalia

1. Introduction
Toxoplasmosis is caused by a protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, in both animals and humans. Cats of the
family Felidae are the natural reservoir of T. gondii and are the key animal species in the life cycle of this para-
site by excreting the environmentally resistant oocyst. Toxoplasmosis is one of the more common parasitic
zoonoses worldwide. People can become infected with T. gondii by ingesting raw or undercooked meat con-

How to cite this paper: Kadle, A.A.H. (2014) Sero-Prevalence of Toxoplasmosis in Domestic Animals in Benadir Region, So-
malia. Open Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 4, 170-174. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ojvm.2014.48019
 A. A. H. Kadle

taining tissue cysts or by ingesting cat-shed oocysts via contaminated soil, food or water. It may cause abortion
or a congenital disease in its intermediate hosts, all warm-blooded animals including humans [1]-[4]. There is a
little information concerning human Toxoplasmosis in Somalia [5] [6]. However, no data is available on
Toxoplasmosis in domestic animals in the country. This is the first scientific research on Toxoplasmosis in do-
mestic animals in Somalia.
Livestock are the backbone of the socioeconomic systems of most of the rural communities in African coun-
tries including Somalia, with its vast rangeland grazing area and large animal population. They are adapted to a
nomadic way of grazing which may be migrated through borders with Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya [7].
There is a dearth of actual and reliable data on livestock numbers and the animal health situation throughout
the country. Numbers and statistics on Somalia are estimates of varying reliability. About 37.5 millions grazing
animals were reported by FAO [7], other data gathered by the Food Security Assessment Unit (FSAU) was a to-
tal of 38.9 millions grazing animals [8]. The composition of animals in Southern part of Somalia is shown in
Table 1. Due to the scarcity of research projects and lack of public awareness in the country, this study contrib-
utes a recent data base on zoonotic diseases and increases public awareness in the country.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Study Area
The Federal Republic of Somalia covered an area of 638,000 square kilometres in the Horn of Africa. Somalia’s
land-mass is dominated by arid and semiarid rangelands for which pastoralism is the most appropriate form of
land use. Benadir is a region in southeastern Somalia. It is bordered by Somali regions of Middle Shebelle and
Lower Shebelle, as well as the Indian Ocean. Its capital is Mogadishu [9].

2.2. Investigated Animals

Cattle, Sheep, Goats and Camels in Benadir region, Somalia.

2.3. Blood Sample Collection

Blood samples were collected from 151 apparently healthy animals in Benadir region, Somalia by venipuncture
using plain vaccutainer tubes and allowed to clot overnight at room temperature. Serum samples were separated
and decanted into micro-tubes and then examined.

2.4. Sample Examination—Serological Testing

Latex Agglutination Test (LAT)
The serum samples and Toxoplasma antigen (Spinreact, S.A./S.A.U., Ctra. Santa Coloma, Spain) were kept one
hour in room temperature before beginning of the test. A total of 50 µl of each serum to be tested was placed on
a LAT plate. Then the vial of antigen was shacked gently and 25 µl of antigen was put beside each of the sera.
The antigens and the serum were mixed on the plate with a stirrer and spread over the entire circle. Then the
plate was rotated manually for 4 minutes and the reading was taken immediately. Any agglutination was consid-
ered as positive, whereas no reaction (negative) was indicated as the absence of Toxoplasma antibody in the sera.
The positive reactors were then diluted; two fold dilution, 1:2 up to 1:128. These samples were examined in Du-
fle Specialist Clinic Laboratory, Mogadishu, Somalia.

3. Results
As delineated in Table 2, the overall sero-prevalence of Toxoplasmosis in different livestock species was 15.9%
(24 out of 151 animals). The highest rate of T. gondii infection was found in sheep 10 (34.5%) followed by goats
8 (26.7%), cattle 2 (7.1%), and camels 4 (6.3%). The antibody titres to T. gondii positive sera were 2 (8.3%), 9
(37.5%), 4 (16.7%), 4 (16.7%), 4 (16.7%), 1 (4.2%) and 0 (0%) by dilution of 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 1:16, 1:32, 1:64 and
1:128 respectively. Most of animals (37.5%) had antibody titer of 1:4 while higher antibody titers, 1:64, were
detected only in one goat serum sample. Considering the sex of animals, as presented in Table 3, 8 (5.3%) of
male and 16 (10.6%) of female out of 151 animals were sero-positive for Toxoplasmosis.

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Table 1. Livestock species and numbers (FSAU, 1999).

Total animal
Animals area Camel Cattle Sheep Goat
numbers
Southern 1,217,470 1,340,870 707,020 1,860,110 5,125,470

Table 2. Overall sero-prevalence of Toxoplasmosis in different livestock species based on LAT.

Distribution of specific antibody titres to Toxoplasmosis positive reaction (%)

Number of Number of
Species
sera tested positive reactors (%)
1:2 1:4 1:8 1:16 1:32 1:64 1:128

Camels 64 4 (6.3) 2 (50) 1 (25) 0 (0) 1 (25) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0)

Cattle 28 2 (7.1) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (50) 1 (50) 0 (0) 0 (0)

Sheep 29 10 (34.5) 0 (0) 6 (60) 3 (30) 0 (0) 1 (10) 0 (0) 0 (0)

Goats 30 8 (26.7) 0 (0) 2 (25) 1 (12.5) 2 (25) 2 (25) 1 (12.5) 0 (0)

Total 151 24 (15.9) 2 (8.3) 9 (37.5) 4 (16.7) 4 (16.7) 4 (16.7) 1 (4.2) 0 (0)

Table 3. Sex related sero-prevalence of Toxoplasmosis based on LAT in different livestock species.
Distribution of specific antibody titres to
Number of
Sex of Number of Toxoplasmosis positive reaction (%)
Species positive reactors
animals sera tested
(%) 1:2 1:4 1:8 1:16 1:32 1:64 1:128

Male 15 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0)

Camels
Female 49 4 (8.2) 2 (50) 1 (25) 0 (0) 1 (25) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0)
Male 6 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0)
Cattle
Female 22 2 (9.1) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (50) 1 (50) 0 (0) 0 (0)
Male 13 5 (38.5) 0 (0) 3 (60) 1 (20) 0 (0) 1 (20) 0 (0) 0 (0)
Sheep
Female 16 5 (31.3) 0 (0) 3 (60) 2 (40) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0)

Male 11 3 (27.3) 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (33.3) 1 (33.3) 0 (0) 1 (33.3) 0 (0)

Goats
Female 19 5 (26.3) 0 (0) 2 (40) 0 (0) 1 (20) 2 (40) 0 (0) 0 (0)

Total 151 24 (15.9) 2 (8.3) 9 (37.5) 4 (16.7) 4 (16.7) 4 (16.7) 1 (4.2) 0 (0)

4. Discussion
The overall sero-prevalence of Toxoplamosis reported in this study was 15.9% based on LAT. The prevalence
of camels in this study (6.3%) was found to be lower than that reported in Sudan (20%) by using LAT [10],
Egypt (30.7%) by using Modified Agglutination Test, MAT [11], Iran (14.57%) by using MAT [12] and Turkey
(90.9%) by using Sabin-Feldman Dye Test (SFDT) [13]. For cattle, the prevalence of this study (7.1%) was
lower than that reported in Sudan (32%) by using LAT [10], Iran (55%) by using MAT [14], Pakistan (25%) by
using LAT [15], Thailand (22.3%) by using LAT [16] but is comparable to that reported in Ethiopia (6.6%) us-
ing an Indirect Haemoagglutination Test, IHAT [17]. In sheep, the prevalence of this study (34.5%) was lower
than that reported in Sudan (57.5%) by LAT [10], Libya (71%) by using LAT [18] and higher than Pakistani
(2.5%) sheep by using LAT [15] and Djibouti (9.8%) by using IHAT [19]. In Ethiopia, the prevalence in sheep
was obtained (22.9%) by using IHAT in 1989 [17] and later on (2004) the prevalence reached (52.6%) by using
MAT [20]. In goats, the prevalence of this study (26.7%) was lower than that reported in Pakistan (52%) by us-
ing LAT [21] and higher than that reported in Djibouti (6.4%) by using IHAT [19], Iran (15%) by using En-
zyme-Linked Immuno-sorbent Assay, ELISA [22] and Ethiopia, 1989, (11.6%) by using IHAT [19], but on later
studies in Ethiopia, 2004, was obtained 24% which is comparable to this study [20]. The variation in the preva-
lence rates among different countries may be due to the number of samples taken as well as different serological
techniques used.

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5. Conclusion and Recommendations

It could be concluded that domestic animals (camels, cattle, sheep and goats) in Somalia are widely infected by
Toxoplasmosis; sheep and goats are more prevalent. The study recommends the need for further researches in
the whole country using different serological tests and to determine the impact of these findings on the human
population. The continued rise of public awareness of zoonotic potential of Toxoplasmosis is also recom-
mended.

Acknowledgements
The author is grateful to acknowledge Dr. Abdalla M. Ibrahim for his valuable advice during this study and
Mr. Ahmed Abdi Mohamed for his kind assistance with blood sample collection. I would like to thank Dufle
Specialist Clinic for allowing me their laboratory and the staff of the laboratory should deserve special appre-
ciation for their assistance during the laboratory work.

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